Oroville chamber executive leaving

Oroville Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Sandy Linville speaks to the Oroville Recreation Advisory Committee. Linville, an active figure in the aftermath of the spillway disaster, is leaving the chamber to take another job.
Bill Husa — Enterprise-Record File

Sandy Linville walks back to her Oroville Chamber of Commerce office on a rainy afternoon last April.
Emily Bertolino — Enterprise-Record File

Oroville >> CEO and President Sandy Linville has announced she is leaving the Oroville Chamber of Commerce.

March 3 will be her last day with the chamber.

The very next week, Linville will be stepping into a job as program director for the nonprofit Work Training Center, which assists adults with disabilities throughout the county.

In an email to this newspaper, she wrote, “I am actually devastated to be leaving. ... It is so hard to leave a job you love. However, I’ll be starting a new position with the Work Training Center that will be exciting and will hopefully result in a better tomorrow for both the region and, more importantly, for WTC clients.”

Linville was hired by the chamber in 2015 after longtime CEO Claudia Knaus retired.

In many cases, Linville has been the face of Oroville Strong, a business and community group that has been an advocate for businesses. It took on new importance after the Oroville Dam spillway disaster in February 2017. She has met with legislators and government officials, advocating for businesses and community in the wake of the impact to the community and area.

“I am working with the chamber board to continue the Oroville Strong advocacy work as this is the most important endeavor for Oroville right now. It is my hope that while I won’t be the chamber director, I’ll still be fighting for a better Oroville.”

About her new responsibilities, Linville said, “The new job offer was the right one for me ... just not the right time. There are so many positive things beginning to happen in Oroville and it breaks my heart to leave here.”

Linville, who has continued to be a Magalia resident while working in Oroville, will be working out of the Chico Work Training Center office.

Prior to joining the chamber, she was assistant director of the Center for Economic Development at Chico State University.

Contact reporter Laura Urseny at 896-7756.

About the Author

Laura Urseny is a business and general news reporter and columnist. A graduate of the University of the Pacific, she has worked at the Chico Enterprise-Record since 1977. Reach the author at lurseny@chicoer.com
or follow Laura on Twitter: @LauraUrseny.